Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale on Wednesday facilitated the signing of the key agreements that will drive the KSh27.8 billion health reform across the country.
The agreements, which have been named Intergovernmental Participatory Agreements (IPAs), will define the framework that will be used to drive the implementation of the Building Resilient and Responsive Health Systems (BREHS) program, which will be implemented over the next five years with funding from the World Bank and will be implemented by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with all the 47 counties in the country.
This program will be implemented across the country with the aim of improving the quality of primary healthcare in the country, with the program aiming to enhance the quality of the devolved health system in the country.
A major focus will be improving the quality of service delivery in the area of Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH), with the program targeting counties that need the most attention and have the least access to such healthcare services.
Of the 47 counties, 10 have been identified to be the focal points that will receive the most attention from the program.
Duale also observed that it would increase institutional capacity for advancing the Taifa Care Model. At the national level, there would be efforts to reform the Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA), as well as create a buffer stock of essential health products and technologies. This would enable all counties to access stock for Level II and III facilities from this reserve.
The roles and responsibilities of both governments are clearly outlined under the IPAs to avoid duplication of roles and ensure effective execution of the plan.
“The agreements promote complementarity between the national and county governments and guarantee seamless execution of the project,” he stated.
The signing of the agreements was marked by the presence of Public Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni, Health Director-General Dr. Patrick Amoth, Council of Governors Chairman Ahmed Abdullahi, CoG Health Committee Chairman Abdulswamad Sharif Nasir, World Bank’s Dr. Elizabeth Wangia, 13 governors, and 10 deputy governors among other dignitaries.
The presence of national and county leaders at the signing of the agreements is a clear indication of support for the project, which is set to define the future of primary healthcare delivery in Kenya over the next five years.